Hopscotch

Hopscotch is a children's game played around the world, either alone or with others. Players throw a small object—sometimes called a piggy or lagger—into a pattern of numbered shapes drawn on the ground, then hop or jump through the spaces to retrieve it. The game provides both physical and mental exercise.

To begin, a court is marked on the ground, often scratched into dirt or drawn with chalk on pavement. In some school playgrounds, courts are painted permanently. The design typically includes a series of single squares and pairs of side-by-side squares, ending with a "safe" or "home" base where players can turn around. Squares are numbered in the order they must be hopped.

The first player tosses a marker—such as a small stone, coin, bean bag, or charm on a chain—into the first square. It must land completely inside without bouncing or rolling out. In Scotland and Ireland, the marker is often an old shoe polish tin or flat stone called a piggy. In the United States, it was called a lagger, and in the 1940s, rubber versions were sold by the Hoppy Taw Company of Utah. The marker must be thrown in numerical order, one square at a time.

The player then hops through the course, skipping the square with the marker. Single squares are hopped on one foot (the first single square allows either foot), while side-by-side squares are straddled with one foot in each. Squares marked "Safe," "Home," or "Rest" can be hopped through in any way. After reaching the home base, the player turns around and retraces the path, stopping just before the marker's square to bend down and pick it up, then continues without stepping on a line or into another player's marker. If the player steps on a line, misses a square, or loses balance, the turn ends. Players resume from where they left off. The first to complete a course for every numbered square wins. Historically, in the boys' version, the marker was kicked back through the court on the return trip and then kicked out.

The game's origins are unclear. German archaeologist Ulrich Schädler found no evidence of hopscotch before the 16th century. B. B. Lal claimed it was played in India around 1200 to 600–500 BCE, but without proof. A game mentioned among those prohibited by Buddha is reminiscent of hopscotch but not specific enough to confirm. Despite speculation about Roman children or soldiers playing it, no evidence exists. The earliest English-language references appear in the late 1600s, often called "scotch-hop" or "scotch-hoppers." A manuscript from 1635–1672 by Francis Willughby describes players using a piece of tile or lead on a floor divided into oblong figures. Poor Robin's Almanack in 1677 mentions "Scotch-hoppers," and the 1707 edition suggests lawyers and physicians might play it. Webster's 1828 dictionary defined "Scotch-hopper" as a game where boys hop over scotches and lines.

The Oxford English Dictionary says "hopscotch" comes from "hop" and "scotch," meaning an incised line or scratch. A 1870 journal notes the game is called "Hop-Score" in Yorkshire, "Scotch Hobbies or Hobby" in Suffolk, and "Peevers," "Peeverels," or "Pabats" in Scotland.

Many variations exist worldwide. In India, it is called Stapu or Kit Kit in Hindi, Nondi/Paandi in Tamil, Thokkudu billa in Telugu, or Kith-Kith, Kunte Bille in Kannada. In Spain and parts of Latin America, it is rayuela, golosa, or charranca. In France, it is marelle. In Turkey, it is Seksek; in Russia, klassiki; in Bulgaria, dama. In Poland, there are two forms: klasy, which has a rectangular shape and no marker (players call out items of a class like colors or flowers).